Wild Weed
About Wild Weed
Ann Lester, an orphan paying for her brother's college, takes a marijuana cigarette from the dealer Markey at a party and keeps using it. She loses her job and starts selling for him. Her brother hangs himself when he learns what she is doing. She is arrested, shown the wards and jails where users end up, and held for 50 days. She comes out ready to help the police against Markey.
Cast & crew
More about Wild Weed
Sam Newfield directed under the name Sherman Scott. It was shot from mid-May to late May 1949 at Hal Roach Studios. Chicago saw a world premiere on 14 July 1949. A listing gives 69 to 72 minutes. Lila Leeds plays Ann Lester. Alan Baxter plays Markey. Lyle Talbot plays Captain Hayes. Kroger Babb and J. S. Jossey later reissued it as She Shoulda Said No!, with a prologue that says if the film saves one young person from becoming a dope fiend, the story has been well told.
Themes
Background
The 1949 release followed the Leeds and Mitchum marijuana arrests. The police captain in the story is named Hayes, after the Los Angeles narcotics captain in the AFI summary.
Making
Newfield shot it in about two weeks at Hal Roach. Babb picked it up when it could not find a distributor and retitled it.
Look
Jack Greenhalgh photographed the party at Ann's house and the club St. Pierre.
Music
Raoul Kraushaar wrote the music.
Preservation
Prints survive under the later title She Shoulda Said No!
Notes
- The picture was made after Leeds and Robert Mitchum were arrested on a marijuana charge.
- Another title Babb used was The Story of Lila Leeds and Her Exposé of the Marijuana Racket.
- AFI's plot also has three teenagers killed in a crash after they buy cigarettes from Markey, and a girl who loses both legs.
- Rita, a chorus girl at the St. Pierre club, is the one Markey uses to bring Ann to the party.
- The brother's name in the AFI synopsis is Bob.
Scenes
- Markey gives Ann a cigarette at the party in her house.
- Her brother hangs himself after he learns she is selling.
- After 50 days she agrees to help the police on Markey.
Also available
- Internet Archive (SheShouldaSaidNo)
- Wikimedia Commons (She Shoulda Said No! (Full length movie).ogv)
